2 Timothy 2:20-21 In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for special purposes and some for common use. Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.
As we searched our small woods for this year’s Christmas tree, our limited options became clear. My husband had planted the trees years ago and by now, the ones we hadn’t previously cut, loomed high. Way too high for our 7-foot ceiling. So we ended up cutting the top off of a 12-foot Blue Spruce. The height worked, but its branches, its very full branches, almost consumed the whole family room! My husband took out his snippers and started snipping. By the time he finished trimming it down, and we put the lights and ornaments on, we couldn’t believe our eyes. The fullest, most beautiful tree stood before us. (And we could see the other side of the room!)
But it had to be trimmed down before its beauty graced our house. If our tree would have insisted on not being cut, it would have remained unnoticed among the other 12-foot trees. However, we envisioned a different purpose for it, a purpose more stunning than even we could have imagined.
Not unlike God’s purposes for us. Oh, he knows all about our resistance. It hurts too much to be cut (down to size), But my branches are lovely the way they are. I could never be anything other than who I am. And if we want to remain 12-foot trees rather than fitted for something far better, he won’t force us. But what a loss for us and for the world.
Scripture describes how God has special purposes for those who allow him to trim them down. When we say yes to his offer of cleansing, he can elevate us from “common use” to something holy and useful. And we’ll discover a life more meaningful, more purposeful, more beautiful, than we can imagine.
So whether you are a 12-foot or 20-foot or 2-foot tree, I pray you give yourself to the Master. Don’t resist his “trimming.” Yield yourself to his higher purposes. I promise, the results will be more spectacular than our Christmas tree.